Erie police charge 3 in Tuesday shooting

An Erie police investigation into a Tuesday morning shooting on the city's east side has landed the shooting victim and two others in jail.

Christopher M. Hansen II, 25, told police he was shot in the shoulder on East Avenue by two masked men who chased him and fought with him shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday. But investigators charge that Hansen was actually shot while he and Cody L. Menhart, 25, were committing an armed robbery at a Hess Avenue residence early Tuesday morning.

Hansen and Menhart are each in the Erie County Prison on $100,000 bond this morning after being arraigned on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license and possessing instruments of crime. Hansen also was charged with making false reports.

The robbery victim accused of shooting Hansen, Jacob R. Pakulski, 19, was charged with aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing an instrument of crime and recklessly endangering. He also was charged with illegal sale or transfer of a firearm after he told police he sold the gun used to shoot Hansen to a 20-year-old for $50, according to the criminal complaint.

Pakulski is also in jail on $100,000 bond this morning.

Investigators have not recovered any guns in the case, Erie Police Chief Steve Franklin said this morning.